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| Moderated by: Tony Provencher, Richard Hefner |
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| Laminated Top versus Solid Top in Low Humidity | Rate Topic |
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| Posted: Mon Mar 3rd, 2008 06:33 am |
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1st Post |
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molinee Approved
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In very dry areas like Denver or Phoenix where humidity is next to nothing.... And assuming that you have two quality Ukes....Would a laminated Uke top resist cracking more than a solid Uke top? -Just wondering and Thanks!
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| Posted: Mon Mar 3rd, 2008 06:58 am |
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2nd Post |
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Will Approved 
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molinee wrote: In very dry areas like Denver or Phoenix where humidity is next to nothing.... And assuming that you have two quality Ukes....Would a laminated Uke top resist cracking more than a solid Uke top? In all likelihood, the laminated top uke would fare better than the solid top uke in a very dry climate. I'm in a humid climate in Chicago, except for the winter time, but I have a whole house humidifier installed in the heating system. I use Damp-It soundhole humidifiers if I have to take a nice instrument on the road to a gig or a jam during winter time.
____________________ Will http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/297/ Loose Change & Friends http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/245/ http://loosechangeandfriends.com The Earth Tones http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/337/ A Bunch Of Coconuts http://abunchofcoconuts.com |
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| Posted: Mon Mar 3rd, 2008 04:19 pm |
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3rd Post |
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scrooner Approved
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Assuming you have two "quality" ukes, they would both be solid tops. Laminate tops cannot compete with solid wood tops. Keep your uke in a case with a humidifier when you are not playing (these can be found for under $10) & you should be fine. KoAloha has a warranty against wood movement if you buy one with a humidifier. On the other hand, I've heard that some brands are more susceptible to cracking (Mele comes to mind), which suggests to me that they don't build in a climate-controlled atmosphere. This causes more wood movement when you take the uke to a drier area.
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| Posted: Mon Mar 3rd, 2008 04:45 pm |
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4th Post |
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ezmember Approved
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If your two quality ukes are real old and haven't cracked yet, they're unlikely to crack even if un-humidified. At least that's what I've been told. I have a 50 yr. old Gibson guitar and a 50 yr. old Martin Baritone Uke and neither have been or are now humidified (I'm in dry Colorado), and neither have cracks. Having never been humidified, they're both as dry as dry can get. I also got the impression that, like Will, a laminated uke is less likely to crack. I keep my new (non-laminated) ukes hanging on the wall in an unused bathroom with a Sears humidifier that I add water to once a day. The ukes are easy to grab off the wall, being hung up and not in a case. It's too bad these wood instruments crack at all, but I guess nobody's yet figured out how to make them so they won't, which I guess is impossible. Having a less expensive laminated uke is like having an old beat up car in a way. You have the advantage of not having to worry about protecting it all the time, if that makes sense.
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| Posted: Mon Mar 3rd, 2008 07:07 pm |
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5th Post |
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molinee Approved
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Thanks to All for your help. I am learning as I go. I think a laminated will do just fine at this stage and might be a little less affected by the low humidity here in Colorado.
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| Posted: Mon Mar 3rd, 2008 08:11 pm |
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6th Post |
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Neal Approved 
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If your two quality ukes are real old and haven't cracked yet, they're unlikely to crack even if un-humidified. Not necessarily true. I have a good friend, never one to humidify, and that always bugged me. This year his '65 Gibson B25( owned since new) developed 2 nasty back cracks, and his 40's Favilla developed a side crack. These were humidity related. Neither has been humidified in their entire lives. But this year his luck ran out, and I didn't say "I told ya so". So don't take a chance, water's cheap, labor is minimal. Do it.
____________________ http://ezfolk.com/audio/NealPaisley http://www.youtube.com/nealpaisley http://www.myspace.com/nealpaisley |
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| ezFolk Forums > Ukulele > General Ukulele > Laminated Top versus Solid Top in Low Humidity | Top |
